Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-25
The Lesson OF church DiscipIine.

suds will produce a very large bubble II
only wind enough is applied with sufficient
power. One of the latest illustrations OF
this character is found in q case of church
discipline A priesb>of the Roman Catholic
communion has publicly taught doctrine
which that church has pronounced heret-
cal, and continued his teaching after due
warning from his superior. He was rector
of parish church in this city, and he was
suspended by the proper ecclesiastical au'
thority, and a new parish priest was ap
pointed in his place. He submitted, as in
duty bound, and will give an account OF his
course at the proper tribunal.
This small matter is taken up by those
writer's Of the press who make their living
By sensational literature, and magnifeG in-
to the aspect of worldwide quarrel. 1t
happens that the heresy, although in the
line OF sympathy with phase of socialism
the church has always rebuked, has recent
| IL become popular with many superficial
thinkers, aud thus the indignant politicians
who hope for personal profit and advance
ment through the followers OF Dir. George
have caught up the cry, and are loudly de-
claiming against the Esprit Of bgotry and
intolerance" of which the heretical priest is
represented to be the victim. The laity Of
the parish were doubtless much attached to
| the rector. and under this Cry of "persecu.
tom have become much excited, and are
yowing all sorts OF vengeance if their wishes
are not consulted and their pastor IL not re.
| stored to them.
We are entirely. protestant ourselves, but
we have always had warm admiration for
the discipline of the Roman Catholic Church.
The camor OF these sensational writer's, and
their more selfish aiders and abettors, will
| ., |, lin b0r Of hat
communion. The flaming headlines which
declare that "the church cannot afford to
take ground against great popular senti-
ment" and the long articles which predict
|! that it will be rent in twain ii it perseveres
| in the suspension of its recusant priest are
the veriest bosh 1t is only single hereto
removed from his place by his superiors for
breaking his VOW, and disregarding in one
instance an authority ne ia still content In
the general to recognize. But if it were
much more serious, and the contestants rep
resented thousands instead of dozens, the
result would be the same. The church will
enforce its authority, and both tho priest
and people, the excitement being over, will
make due submission. The priest will be
kept silent until he repents and recants.
The church, which claims infalliblity for its
teachings, will not recall its verdict nor adj
NIT that the heresy it has condemned may
after all be consistent with the truth.
Nor will the people rebel. There is moth.
ing grander among the forces which have
controlled human conduct than the influ
ence of the Romsh hierarchy oyer the
membership of that church, and through it,
in he earlier times, over vast empires and
nations. There is no possible hope even IN
| our day for successful contest by the laity
against the papal authorities, while they re-
main in the fellowship Of that communion.
They must abandon the order or submit to
its discipline. No priest can administer
the sacraments, no individual or body of
| the laity can receive them except in humil-
| ity and absolute submission. The excom-
mupication which follows continued disobe-
dience has far more terrors for the religious
man or woman than threats of the prison
and the gallows have for ordinary evil doers.
Denied the sacraments, and not only the
rites of burial, but even q resting place in
| copsecrated ground, what comfort has be-
lever in that faith in either life or death
while under the ban of his Church?
The one aspect of this case deserving of
the serious attention of all the Protestant
churches is the unswerving fidelity of the
papal authorities to their system OF faith.
No Church organization can long command
respect, nor retain whatever power Tor good
| it may have over the lives and consclences
of men when it grows lax in its discipline and
permits its ordained ministers to teach what
it pronounces heresy. The cant phrase lib.
eral theology is Pigment of the magma
ton the moment this greatest OF all the
sciencesloses its recognized form and sub.
stance it is powerless for good and as idle as
| painted ship upon painted ocean.
| W. ind IN prpGH Roman
ism, but are simply citing its example in its
stern resistance to what it believes to be
heresy as worthy OF the imitation of every
church that would preserve its power and
! influence. We see every day in some part
of the world examples of 6 clergymen or
public teacher, connected with the Presby-
terrain, Episcopelian or other Protestant
church, giving cut doctrines that are noto-
riously at variance with the standard of
faith to which he has protested his conformi-
ty, and who is allowed to go almost unre-
buked by those who have the right to call
him to account for such departure from
the faith he has espoused.
If the heresy becomes so pronounced that
the body to which he is attached is scandal
lied and an attempt is made to recall him
to his allegiance or TO sever his connection
with those he thus misrepresents, the cry is
everywhere raised that his questioners are
bigoted and intolerant and would revive
the inquisition, if they dared, and burn the
offender at the stake. Those who are most
clamorous, however, cannot but respect the
judicatory that is true to itself and its
avowed faith, and that is utterly intolerant
of heresy on the part of its avowed adhe-
rents For this is the turning point, and
one that every honest man is bound TO fol-
low. He must be held to conformity while
he retains his connection but should have
the utmost freedom the moment he sewers
it. He has no right to claim to be Presby-
terrain or an orthodox Congregationalst
while he publicly teaches system of doc
trnes widely at variance witbGits accepted
standards. And any denomination that
permits such heresy to 60 unrebuked like
church that allows protesting member to
lead an immoral life, is powerless for good,
Il xa.t 20 hcl